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Salem home saved from fire after neighbor digs out hydrant

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Updated: 6:34 AM EST Jan 29, 2015

When Salem firefighters arrived at Highland Avenue on Wednesday morning, a fire that started on the back steps of a home had already reached the attic, but a neighbor who dug out a fire hydrant saved crews time. WMUR's Stephanie Woods has the report.

Salem home saved from fire after neighbor digs out hydrant

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Updated: 6:34 AM EST Jan 29, 2015

SALEM, N.H. —

When Salem firefighters arrived at Highland Avenue on Wednesday morning, a fire that started on the back steps of a home had already reached the attic, but a neighbor who dug out a fire hydrant saved crews time and helped save the house, officials said.

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“It can take quite a bit of room. It can take several minutes,” Capt. Jon Brackett said.

Members of the fire department are digging out the town’s hydrants, which could take several weeks. A snow-covered hydrant costs firefighters precious minutes during an emergency, Brackett said.

The fire at 16 Highland Ave. was reported around 10:45 a.m. It started when the owner used a blowtorch to melt ice off the back steps of the house, he said.

“Yeah, I can’t emphasize enough how much we do discourage people from using an open flame to melt snow or ice in an event like this,” Brackett said.

Normally, he would’ve assigned another company to find and uncover a fire hydrant, he said.

“We were dedicating additional resources to find a water supply and upon arrival, we found that the hydrant in the front of No. 10, about two doors down, one of the residents had already dug it out, and it made a big difference for us,” Brackett said.

Firefighters had the blaze under control by 11:15 a.m., thanks to John McLaughlin.

“I thought it was the right thing to do. The fire department can do their job,” McLaughlin said.

He said he didn’t do anything special, just dug out the hydrant next to his mailbox while he was shoveling snow.

However, knowing that his small act kept his neighbors safe was special, McLaughlin said.

“That kind of makes it even better to help somebody that you don’t even really know,” he said.

No one was hurt.

Firefighters said residents should take the time to shovel out hydrants on their streets.